What has been the best fantasy novel you have read so far in 2009?  Mine is hands down The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.  I absolutely loved this book.  It was awesome!!

Well, I've given only two fantasy novels five stars this year:

Naamah's Kiss, by Jacqueline Carey

Transformation, by Carol Berg

However, neither left a 100% positive memory, for very different reasons; the main character in Naamah's Kiss (Moirin) just doesn't equal Phedre from the original Kushiel series, though her story is excellently told; while Transformation completely blew me away, but its sequels didn't, so in retrospect I can see more flaws in it. Still, I'd have to say those are the two best fantasy novels I've read.

Runners up would be The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss; Swordspoint, by Ellen Kushner; The Tower at Stony Wood, by Patricia McKillip; Tooth and Claw, by Jo Walton; and Blood and Iron, by Elizabeth Bear. All of those novels rated 4 - 4 1/2 stars, though the Patricia McKillip and Ellen Kushner novels were the most objectively excellent -- I don't think either author can write a bad sentence, their novels just didn't quite resonate with me emotionally.

So far Sarah A Hoyt is leading my list.  We shall see if I can get my hands on Kim Wilkins' recent one.  And I have a Robin McKinley on my TBR pile. 

Which Robin McKinley novel?

Dragonshaven. 

I just had a Kim Wilkins book posted to me - still waiting on member to acknowledge (argh).  I've never read anything by this author and am excited to finally get one.

I finished the Truth series by Dawn Cook (4 books) in about 3 days. She's such an amazing writer because I can find some way to connect with her protagonist every single time. She also writes urban fantasy under the name Kim Harrison.

I really have to be in the right mood to tackle a Kim Wilkins book.  They are very dense and dark.  But so lush. 

Has anyone read her YA?  What are they like?

Name of the Wind is probably my top choice as well, but The Hero of Ages (Mistborn book 3) is a close second.

Easy choice...mine is The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams.  828 pages, and still felt too short! 

I've heard a lot of good things about The Name of the Wind and it's on my WL, but maybe I should see if the library has it. 

The Ghost King By RA Salvatore

I just finished reading Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley.  It took a little to try and figure out who is who and what is what, but it was great.

"Name of the Wind" was great. But I also read all George RR Martin's "Fire and Ice" series this year, and it's ruined me. No one else comes close; Greg Keyes "Briar King" trilogy was excellent, too.

an after-thought.....I love some fantasy, it's my favorite genre--IF I think they're good. Seems like most I find or hear about are paranormal/romance; either too simple-minded or too YA.; or just so weird I can't even get into it. I wish I could find more--or was not so picky.

@ Jay. I'm in the middle of Winterbirth. Have you read the sequel? Is it worth reading? Winterbirth, while well written, just seems very slow and "boggy"ish :-)

 I have been looking this thread over all month, trying to decide if Dan Simmons's Ilium and Olympos are fantasy or hard sci-fi. I will give fantasy the nod and give them my vote for best of the month. (over Feist's Krondor series).

@Derrik: If you liked Winterbirth then you will like Bloodheir.  If you didn't like Winterbirth then you will not like Bloodheir.

@Betty: I thought Keyes' The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone were a tetralogy.

@JB: I agree with you about Sanderson's The Hero of Ages.  Definately one of the best books I've read this year.

Other stand outs from my past year's fantasy reading include: The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak, Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory, The Dragons of Babel by Michael Swanwick, The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, The Book of Knights by Yves Meynard, and Purple and Black by K.J. Parker.

The one that takes the cake for me though is Last Call by Tim Powers, which I read for the first time this year.  It blew my socks off.  It was without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read.

I've read about 400 books this year and the ones that have stood out are:

James Clemens Wit'ch Series: Wit'ch Fire, Wit'ch Storm, Wit'ch War and the last 2 are on my TBR list: Wit'ch Gate and Wit'ch Star.  So far this series is one of the best I've ever read.  It's got everything I love: well rounded complex characters, animals including mythical, romance, mystery, revenge, war and a fasinating world.  I can't wait to get to the last 2 books.

Yasmine Galenorm Otherworld Series: I've only gotten to the first 3 of this series so far, the others are on my Wish list but I've really enjoyed it so far. Witchling, Changeling and Darkling.

My favorites so far this year have been a new series for me, but I gather rather 'old' to the fantasy world. It makes me a little embarressed that I didn't know about them until recently:

Katherine Kurtz's Deryni Series, I just finished 'Deryni Rising, Deryni Checkmate & High Deryni. I read 'King Kelson's Bride' a few months back and have been searching for the other books.

I found the previous three books on booksfree and just ordered 'The Histories of King Kelson' Trilogy from here (Just joined PBS a couple weeks ago)

So far her books are my favorite new reads this year, but they year still has a few months, who knows what I'll find in the next two months lol and this doesn't count old favorites that I have re-read.

--Aileene

I think my fav so far this year is Deerskin by Robin McKinely.  I read some of her other books and they were good too.

I am also enjoying "The Magicians"

And also love the Jacq Carey books. The intrigue is great and one of the few books I dont guess the endings of.

Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy. Awesome - can't wait for the prequel (I think) to come up on my WL.

Keyes' Kingdom of Thorn and Bone would be my choice.  it is a tetralogy, which I didn't realize until I was halfway through book 3 and had to scramble to find book 4, so I remember that very clearly. 

I've got Rothfuss on my tbr mountain, and I hope to live long enough to read it.

Hm.  Mine are all older books.  Deerskin by Robin McKinley.  Heroes and Villains by Angela Carter.  Kindred by Octavia Butler.